Lebanon: Aoun Conditions Return to Negotiations on Israeli Withdrawal and Reconstruction

Beirut (Agencies): Lebanese President Joseph Aoun linked yesterday the resumption of negotiations with Israel to the withdrawal of its forces from Lebanese territory, considering it one of the non-negotiable constants. During a visit to the southern city of Nabatieh alongside Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal and security agency chiefs, Aoun stated that “there are no new negotiations with Israel at this time,” affirming that “withdrawal, the return of prisoners and displaced persons, and reconstruction are national constants we are committed to implementing,” according to the Lebanese News Agency.

This stance comes amid ongoing Israeli escalation in southern Lebanon, most notably recent military movements in the Tel al-Taher area, which have heightened fears that Israel is seeking to entrench its presence in strategic locations within Lebanese territory rather than withdrawing as per understandings brokered by the United States. In this context, Beirut insists that Israeli withdrawal must serve as a fundamental prerequisite for any new negotiation track, alongside addressing the files of prisoners and missing persons, the return of displaced persons, and the reconstruction of areas damaged by military operations.

During his visit to Nabatieh, Aoun inspected government buildings severely damaged by Israeli airstrikes, as well as the building of the Central Bank of Lebanon, which was destroyed by shelling. He also visited a hospital, where he praised the resilience of its medical staff in the face of difficult conditions.